Breaker point adjustment tool comprising screwdriver probe with coaxial switch



Apr-1l 6, 1965 e. 1 DE NoMME 3,177,424

BREAKER POINT ADJUSTMENT TOOL COMPRISING SCREWDRIVER PROBE WITH COAXIAL SWITCH Filed June 21, 1960 .Aff

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Gea rjgQ, EEA/amm@ United States lPatent @dice M1424 BREAKER POlNT ADEUS'EltiENT TOL COMPRIS: ING SCREWDRli/ER PRGEE WETH QAXHAL SWliTCH George L. De Nomine, Bridgeport, Conn., assigner of one-third each to Nichoias i. Fatse and George Fatse, both of Bridgeport, Conn.

Fiied Enne 21, 196i), Ser. No. 37,629 2 Claims. (Cl. 32e- 15) This invention relates to tools or equipment for use in regulating the tiring of an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to hand-held tools of this character, which are adapted for adjusting the distributor breaker points of an automobile.

In the past it has been the practice, in connection with vehicles, to adjust the distributor points controlling the primary or low tension side of the ignition circuit by the use of a feeler gage which was interposed between the points with the breaker cam set at one of its high spots. The setting of the cam was accomplished either by manually cranking the engine, or by placing the gear shift in high gear and rocking or rolling the car, or momentarily energizing the starter motor to effect an incremental movement of the crank shaft and timing system.

While this method or variations of it has been in use for many years and has proved to be quite practical and satisfactory, it depended to a great extent upon the skill and experience of the mechanic, and when an inexperienced or relatively unskilled person attempted to properly set the timing or points of the car the setting was not always sufficiently accurate and satisfactory to provide for proper ignition, being neither too early nor' too late in the cycle.

in the search for better and improved methods of setting the points, which would work with equal accuracy both for skilled and relatively unskilled personnel there was developed a meter adapted to be connected to the ignition system of the automobile, which meter was commonly known as a cam angle and dwell meter. This meter made use of the open circuit and closed circuit periods of the breaker points as the engine was rotated or cranked, to indicate the proper spacing or gap to which the points were to be set. In the use of this cam angle and dwell meter the operator would cause the engine to be cranked by the electric starter and would adjust the points manually through the use of a screwdriver while observing the indications on the cam angle and dwell meter. Usually such operation was carried out by the operator employing a jumper wire or some other circuit closing device, which he either temporarily clipped in place or else held with one hand to effect energization of the engine vstarter and cranking of the engine. The other hand was utilized to hold the screwdriver and turn the same for the purpose of changing the spacing or gap between the breaker points. Thus, there was still involved a certain amount or dexterity and skill, which was required of the operator in order to make use of the cam angle and dwell meter, and while such skill and dexterity did not enter into the accuracy of the final results it nevertheless was needed to enabie the operator to use the improved electrical meter equipment to insure reliability of the point settings.

The present invention eliminates insofar as possible the skill and dexteritykwhich is required of an operator, in availing himself in the use of a cam angle and dwell meter in the setting of the distributor or breaker points, and o-ne object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved breaker point adjusting tool or accessory for use with such a meter, which greatly facilitates the use of the meter and makes the point settlng or adjustment operation easier to accomplish and much quicker.

igatented Apr. 6, 1965 A further object or" the invention is to provide an improved breaker point adjusting tool as above characterized, which enables the user with but a single hand to both adjust the breaker points and also effect cranking of the engine, thereby freeing the other hand for other purposes as to grasp an adjoining part of the vehicle to obtain much-needed support.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved ignition breaker point tool or accessory in accordance with the foregoing, which is extremely simple in its construction, easy and convenient to use, and reliable in operation at all times.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved and simplified breaker point adjusting tool comprising a combination screwdriver and electrical switch having the above advantages, and which is nevertheless economical to fabricate and produce.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a simplified breaker point adjusting tool for use with a cam angle and dwell meter, wherein existing screwdrivers as presently manufactured and available on the market may be readily adapted and utilized as the pointadjusting component of the tool.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a breaker point adjusting tool utilizing a screwdriver component and an engine cranking switch, wherein the actuation of the switch supplements the desired force needed to operate the screwdriver and makes more effective the use of this latter component, thereby generally facilitating the turning movement of the distributor breaker point adjusting screw.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel combination screwdriver and engine cranking switch as outlined, wherein during the use of the tool the thumb of the hand will be naturally positioned to actuate the Yswitch and apply a proper operating force to the screwdriver as this latter is grasped in the hand and applied to the distributor point adjusting screw.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters of reference have been used to designate like components throughout the several Views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved combination screwdriver and cranking switch adjusting tool, as provided by the invention.

FiG. 2 is a perspective view of the breaker point adjusting tool and a distributor to which the tool is applied, and also a diagrammatic representation of the automobile starting or cranking circuit.

Referring now particularly to the drawings and especially to FIG. 2, the starting motor of a vehicle is indicated by the numeral 10. The starting motor 1t) may be energized from a battery 12 through a suitable starting circuit (shown by heavy lines) comprising a ground lead 1K4 and a hot lead le, the latter having the starting or motorcontrol switch 1S interposed in it.

The switch 13 may be of the type commonly referred to as a starting solenoid whereby it is adapted for remote control, and such switch or starting solenoid may have a magnet coil 2t) connected by wires 22 and 24 to the opposite sides of the starting battery 12. interposed in the wire 24 may be a manually operable switch Z6, such as the usual push button switch located on the dash or at a convenient spot in the drivers compartment. A ground is indicated at 15, connected with the ground side 14 of the starting motor circuit.

The foregoing starting motor circuit is representative of those found in most modern vehicles. Various different operators have been utilized to effect closing of the solenoid switch 26. For example, some automobiles associate the switch 26 with the ignition key, others with the accelerator, etc. Under any circumstance, a grounding of the terminal 38 of the solenoid coil 20 will eect energization of the coil and closing of the starting motor switch 18, resulting in the starting motor lo being energized and cranking of the engine.

The distributor housing of the vehicle is indicated by the numeral 32, said housing being shown with the distributor cap and rotor removed, revealing the cam or breaker point actuator 34. A cam angle and dwell meter, which may be of any well-known type such as the Kal-Dwell meter Model T-l21 of the Kal Equipment Company of Otsego, Michigan, is represented by the box 36, said meter being shown as connected to the distributor 32 through a cable 38. By the use of the meter 36 the breaker points may be properly adjusted as to the gap or spacing therebetween, this being done by observing the meter while the vehicle engine is being cranked by the starting motor 10.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a novel and improved breaker point adjusting tool comprising a combination screwdriver 48 and electrical push-button switch 42 carried thereby, together with a cable or leads 44 terminating in spring connector clips 46 of a type suitable for connection to the terminals or a terminal and a ground point of the starting switch break in the starting motor circuit, as `occurring at the solenoid switch 18. By the term starting switch break applicant means the intentional break in the starting motor circuit which is controlled by the starting switch, here indicated as the solenoid switch 18. Every starting motor circuit for an automobile has a break in it, which is normally an open-circuit until such time that the starting switch is actuated or closed. The starting switch, spanning such break, controls the same and enables the circuit to be completed at the break for the purpose of energizing the motor. This arrangement is well known in the art, and further details of the same are accordingly not given here. That is, one of the connector clips 46 may be clamped onto a grounded fastening screw at the solenoid switch 18, and the other connector clip 46 may be secured to the terminal 30 of the solenoid coil 20. The cable or lead wires 44 are connected to the terminals of the push-button switch 42, and by such connections the closing of the switch 42 will cause the engine to be cranked by thestarting motor lt), by virtue of the energization of the solenoid switch 18.

It will now be understood that by such organization the matter of properly and accurately adjusting the breaker points in conjunction with thecam angle and dwell meter 36 may be essentially a one-hand operation. As seen in FIG. 2, the screwdriver 40 may be applied to the breaker point adjusting screw and with the cable 44 connected to the proper points of the solenoid starting switch 18, the operator need merely depress the switch button of the switch 42 to effect cranking of the engine and then need merely turn the screwdriver to obtain the proper spacing or gap distance of the breaker points, as will be indicated by the cam angle and dwell meter 36. With such organization the operator has his other hand free, and may utilize it to obtain support which is often much needed, especially where the distributors are located in accessible locations on the vehicle.

Preferably, in accordance with the invention, the push button switch 42 is disposed at the top of the screwdriver handle 48, whereby it is conveniently placed to be pressed by the thumb of the hand which grips the handle. Moreover, the thumb pressure on the switch 42 is such as to supplement the pressure normally applied to maintain the screwdriver bit t) in engagement withv the adjusting screw in the distributor.

It is also preferred to recess the push button switch 42 in the end of the screwdriver handle 48, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, since it provides an unobtrusive location for the switch and one which does not interfere with the proper easy manipulation of the screwdriver. Also, it

enables the switch 42 to be most conveniently actuated by a thumb or other iinger of the hand.

With the construction as above set forth, any conventional, commercially produced screwdriver may be utilized and easily modified or adapted to have the switch 42 and cable 44 incorporated in it. ln eiiecting this, the end of the handle 48 may be recessed or bored out by any suitable drilling tool, and a said side opening communicating with the large central recess provided for the switch. It will be understood, however, that it is within the province and scope of the invention to mount the push button switch in any other suitable manner on thev screwdriver 40, preferably on the handle portion thereof.

instead of connecting one of the connector clips 46 to a ground at the solenoid switch 18, the said one clip may be attached to the shank 48 of the screwdriver, whereby the ground connection for the solenoid coil 20 will be effected through the screwdriver and its engagement with the breaker point adjustment screw. Or, the one lead wire and connector clip coming from the switch 42 may be dispensed with entirely if one terminal of the switch is connected in any suitable manner to the shank 48 of the screwdriver, to effect the grounding connection as aforesaid. In such case, there would be but a single lead wire 44 coming from the switch 42, and the clip 46 carried by said lead wire would be connected to the terminal 38 of the coil 2t).

A further advantageous and simplified construction is also illustrated in FIG. l. As shown therein, the shank portion 56 of the bit Sil, which is embeddedin the handle 48, extends through the latter so as to be in engagement with the metal casing 58 of the push button switch 42. Also, the metal casing 58 is electrically connected to one side of the push button switch. With this construction, one of the lead wires 44 and the associated connector clip 46 need not be used and may be dispensed with, or if it is used, it is plainly marked ground, and is connected to the side of the switch 42 which is electrically joined to the switch casing 58 and the shank 56 of the screwdriver. With this construction, presuming that the one lead wire 44 is dispensed with, the ground circuit through the switch 42 will be eiected by the engagement of the screwdriver shank 56, 50 with the breaker point adjusting screw. By this organization there is effected a further economy, since but a single connector clip 46 and single lead wire 44 are required, the remainder of the circuit through the switch 42 being supplied by the shank and bit of the screwdriver.

It will now be understood that, in accordance with the present invention I have provided a novel, simple and advantageous breaker point adjusting tool comprising a combination screwdriver and electrical switch carried thereby, which tool enables the breaker points of an automobile electrical system to be readily adjusted using essentially but one hand. The tool is extremely simple in its construction, economical to fabricate and produce, and reliable in operation. lt facilitates the adjusting of the breaker points, and reduces the skill necessary in order to obtain a quick, accurate setting of the said points.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

l claim:

l. A tool for adjusting the breaker points of an automobile in conjunction with a cam angle and dwell meter, comprising a screwdriver having a handle and also a bit for engagement with the breaker point adjusting screw; an electric switch attached to the screwdriver and adapted to be actuated by a iinger of the hand holding the screwdriver, said switch being permanently carried by the screwdriver handle; two conductors permanently con` nected with the said switch, including at least one lead wire extending from the switch, for connection to the terminals of the starting switch break in the starting motor circuit of the automobile whereby the said motor may be energized by closing the switch, thereby to effect a cranking of the engine While the screwdriver is being held in the hand and utilized to adjust the said points, said switch being disposed at the end of the screwdriver handle and having an actuating member located to be coaxial with the screwdriver bit, said switch closing in response to pressure on the member in the direction of the said bit.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, in which the switch is recessed in the end of the handle, and in which the lead wire extends through a side of the handle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,213,297 9/ 40 Zitzmann 324-17 2,256,086 9/ 41 Guziel 324-17 2,351,441 6/44 Makuh 324-16 2,520,071 8/50 Tennefos 324-15 X 2,744,176 5/56 Kaman 20C- 61.85 2,901,694 8/59 Lewis 324-53 FOREIGN PATENTS 858,576 12/52 Germany. 378,822 8/ 32 Great Britain. 690,919 4/ 53 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Troubleshooting on Cylinder Head Temperature Installations, article in Instruments, vol. 16, No. 12, December 1943, p. 758.

WALTER L. CARLSON, Primary Examiner.

15 SAMUEL BERNSTEIN, FREDERICK M. STRADER,

Examiners. 

1. A TOOL FOR ADJUSTING THE BREAKER POINTS OF AN AUTOMOBILE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A CAM ANGLE AND DWELL METER, COMPRISING A SCREWDRIVER HAVING A HANDLE AND ALSO A BIT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BREAKER POINT ADJUSTING SCREW; AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH ATTACHED TO THE SCREWDRIVER AND ADAPTED TO BE ACTUATED BY A FINGER OF THE HAND HOLDING THE SCREWDRIVER, SAID SWITCH BEING PERMANENTLY CARRIED BY THE SCREWDRIVER HANDLE; TWO CONDUCTORS PERNAMENTLY CONNECTED WITH THE SAID SWITCH, INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE LEAD WIRE EXTENDING FROM THE SWITCH, FOR CONNECTION TO THE TERMINALS OF THE STARTING SWITCH BREAK IN THE STARTING MOTOR CIRCUIT OF THE AUTOMOBILE WHEREBY THE SAID MOTOR MAY 